Environmental - Air and Water Pollution, Environmental - Research and Development, Environmental - Wastewater, Environmental Engineering

Preferred Education:

Some College

WSP USA, formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, provides a variety of planning, environmental, engineering, and design services in support of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) in its efforts to build and operate a statewide high-speed train system. The California High Speed Train (CHST) project is an 800-mile high-speed rail passenger service, which will run from Sacramento in the North to San Diego in the South, with major interchange hubs in between, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. This will be the first, true high-speed train project in America, with trains operating at up to 220 mph.

To support delivery of the CHST project, WSP is recruiting highly motivated self-starters with an interest in the interface between natural resources and infrastructure planning, development and implementation to join a dynamic multidisciplinary team in our natural resources permitting, mitigation and compliance group. WSP is seeking problem solvers who combine strong written and verbal communications skills and the ability to develop innovative solutions independently and master new concepts quickly to deliver high quality work.

This position would support the CHSRA Statewide Permitting, Mitigation, Compliance, and Cultural Resources Lead in developing, implementing and delivering natural resource permit, mitigation and compliance strategies and related tasks for the project sections of the CHST project. The position location is in Sacramento, California and will require working interactively with the CHSRA personnel, WSP staff located throughout the State, Regional Consultants, legal counsel and the Federal Railroad Administration in the procurement of necessary permits from the applicable resource agencies.

The position offers great opportunities for professional growth as it offers the opportunity to work directly with industry thought leaders to identify and apply evolving requirements and innovative practices to large, highly visible projects across the United States.

Talent is the essence of meeting our client’s objectives, goals and challenges. Be involved in projects with our Transportation Environmental Team. If this sounds like a fit for you, we’d love to have that first discussion with you joining our team for your next internship.

WSP is currently seeking an exceptional candidate for a Natural Resources Permitting Intern for our Sacramento office for spring and summer.

This opportunity is available for a college student in good standing working towards a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a major in Biological, Wetland Sciences, or related program within an accredited program. The candidate will gain experience in federal and State regulatory processes, NEPA and CEQA, compensatory mitigation compliance and planning, and habitat restoration under direct supervision of the firm's leading Permitting, Mitigation, Compliance, and Cultural Resources professionals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The ideal candidate has curiosity about and interest in the protection of natural resources, primarily federal and state listed species and their habitats, and learning about state and federal protection laws relative to those resources, such as:

Section 404 and 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, 33 U.S.C. § 408 (“Section 408”) from the Army Corps of Engineers, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)/National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/NMFS), Section 401/402 of the CWA from the State Water Resources Control Board, Section 1602 and Section 2081 of the Fish and Game Code for the California Department of Fish and Game.

This position will entail tasks such as assessing impacts to natural resources and summarizing in reports and documents, reviewing and editing documents and reports, developing approaches to regulatory compliance approaches, developing regional mitigation program funding and financing options and strategies, reviewing and interpreting state and federal legislation and guidance, helping clients understand and meet regulatory requirements, performing quantitative analyses, collaboration between technical groups across the project sections, and meeting coordination and support.

Each candidate will work closely with the CHSRA, legal counsel and WSP team members to assist with the management of or complete tasks related to the State and federal regulatory processes to support issuance of Record of Decisions (RODs) and permits and agreement documents that allow for and support the construction and operation of the CHST project.

Experience Qualifications:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in progress with a major in Biological, Wetland Sciences, or related program;

Strong analytical and verbal and written communication skills;

Ability to problem solve, complete tasks with limited direction, be self-motivated, be responsible and dependable, and work well in a team dynamic; and

Immediate ability to work in this country.

Preferred Qualifications

Local candidates preferred. Please note that there is no relocation or housing assistance associated with this internship.

Preference given to those who have some knowledge of or experience with federal and State regulatory processes, NEPA and CEQA, compensatory mitigation compliance and planning, and habitat restoration.

About WSP USA

WSP USA (formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff) is the U.S. operating company of one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms—WSP. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment sectors. With nearly 7,000 people in 100 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. www.wsp.com/usa

WSP USA (formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff) is the U.S. operating company of one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms—WSP. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the transportation, buildings, energy, water and environment sectors. With nearly 7,000 people in 100 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. www.wsp.com/usa